Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-01-19
GOV. ROSS ADDRESS. .

Wheeler:
GOV. ROSS ADDRESS. =
citizens, Senators and Repre-
sentatives in the Legislature of Texas:
Every two years the people ere called to
select from the citizens Of the state those
who are TO administer the affairs OF their
government. In making this choice,
every political question that touches the
honor, progress and 'well-being of the
country is July considered; policies, laws
and institutions are freely discussed and
as you have just come from the people, it
is fair to presume that you are July pre-
pared to give expression to what may be
termed the logic Of the popular mind.
Probably no legislature was ever con-
fronted by grayer responsibilities. Those
who study the public affairs OF our state,
and consider the want Of homogeneity in
its population, its industrial pursuits,
business enterprises and social sympa-
thies are aware of the fact that it pre-
sents questions vastly more complicated
and embarrassing than any other state;
and the knowledge required 10 deal with
them wisely, and work out safe issues, Is
immense.
E have a profound hope, not clouded
with the slightest doubt, that these great
anu vital measures will be undertaken
with commendabe temper, moderation
and fairness; and l feel confident tnst
you will meet bravely, unseltishly and
| loyalty, the great work confronting you.
Recognizing common obligation to do
full justice 10 all, the humblest as well
! as the highest-snd make stronger the
! bonds which should unite US, as people,
in common, grand destiny-commensu
rate with g state boundleSs In its re-
sources, infiBite in its, possibilities, and
extending the largest freedom OF pursuit
in matters Of religious concelnment,
social habits, and business engagements,
with no respect of persons, in regard to
rank or place Of birth, in unison with
that political creed which peculiarly dis
tinguiShes our system Of popular gov
eminent
The legislator has peculiar province
committed to his care, and is expected to
meet the constant variations in the con-
ditions of society, its interests and
its securities. II is the experience
and the wants of society, that
teach what laws are necessary;
according to these demands and exigen-
changes of policy, upon economic ques-
lions in our state, is, doubtless, great
disadvantage to its general prosperity.
What it needs and pleads for is stability
l-permanency-s omething upon which
the people may safely rely, as abiding.
1t is not TO be expected that great enter
prises will take that scope, or feel that
vlgor, confronted with the liability of radi
cal change each two years that they would,
could the assurance exist that given
policy would abide, so that men might be
certain to reap the reward of their SOW
ing. Experience demonstrates that
frequent changes in non-es-
senlials are more hurtful, IN I'M
settling the minds of the people,
than the small defects which these
changes have generally proposed to rem
edy; to say nothing Of the increased cost
of legislation and the neglect of more i'm
portant matters. Besides, it is possible
to so complicate legislation as to render
its effects nugatorY, and to make the sim,
plest provision loop hole through which
improper practices are possible; and ii
NAV not be deemed amiss to say that the
prsctice has become quite too general by
which the most important business oil
each session, affecting laws and well
established policies, is crowded ito Its
last hours-thus cOnstraining members,
without time for mature elaboration, to
either suffer measures to become laws, OF
incur the risk Of subJecting the state and
individuals to great loss and inconveni
ence.
In the philosophy of our government
we have system of distributed powers
between the different parts thereof so in'
corporated into the general system, and
endowed with such functions, as to ena'
I BILE them TO act as checks upon each other
And there has been assigned to each,
with great precision and certainty, its ap'
propriate functions, wisely guarding the
: whole by expressly forbiddlng the exer'
else, by any one Of them, of the powers
assigned to either OF the others.
1t is further seen that the same admira-
BILE distribution of powers exists between
the general and state governments, and
while the nature aud scope of the sys-
TEN Is complex in its macl inery, it
is, at the same time, simple in its opera
ton. According TO this theory. g very
large portion OF the functions of severn
ment is OF local character. The federal
government takes cognZance CT those
matters of national interest, and leaves
3 the great mass of governmental powers to
the states, which, in turn, largely distrib-
ute them ont TO the counties, and one i'm
Q portant branch of the government-the
judiciary-requires the aid of the inSivid
= ual citizen in the jury-box. AL, however,
: proceed upon the theory OF seli-govern,
ment, and assume that the people OF every
locality are competent and well, disposed
to it.
This being true, it is important that the
state shall be lacking IL no essential quail.
ity to afford protection and security to
person and property IN every emergency,
and present no pretext for the extension
of the area OF federal power, which, by
| express grant coupled with an imperative
: injunction for its exercise, Is given to
those invoking it, in the provision tina;
declares, ono state shall deny to any per-
son within It's jurisdiction the equal pro-
lection of the laws" II, therefore, we
J would pre- erve the dignity OF our state,
J and make it sovereign with respect to its
internal government, it must stand ready
and willing to bring punishment to all
those who seek to disturb society, or en-
bsrrass or obstruct its agencies for the
preservation of law and order. Besides,
it is fundamental principle Of law, that,
jWhile the citizen owes allegiance to the